[NEohioPAL]A Christmas Story: Stage adaptation of holiday film favorite produced for the second year at Cleveland Play House

Thu Nov 16 07:49:46 PST 2006

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			Contact:  	Alison Bibb
				216-795-7000 ext. 236;
abibb at clevelandplayhouse.com

A Christmas Story is Perfect Holiday treat
Stage adaptation of holiday film favorite produced for the second year =
at
Cleveland Play House

CLEVELAND (October 31, 2006) --  Back by popular demand, A Christmas =
Story,
opens for the second year in a row for previews on November 30 through
December 23, 2006 in the Cleveland Play House=92s Bolton Theatre.

Associate Artistic Director, Seth Gordon, will again direct the cast, =
nearly
all of whom are Cleveland-area actors, in the stage variation of the =
=93new
classic=94 holiday film.

About A christmas story
Phil Grecian=92s stage adaptation of Jean Shepherd=92s fond and funny =
tribute to
the original, traditional, 100% red-blooded, All-American Christmas. =
Join
young Ralphie Parker in his quest for the =93Holy Grail of Christmas =
presents=94
=96 a genuine Red Ryder 200 Shot Carbine Action Air Rifle. Gaze in =
wonder at
his father=92s =93major award.=94 Based on the movie filmed in Cleveland =
in 1983,
this classic holiday comedy is a funny and sweet tale of growing up in =
the
1940s, and is suitable for ages 5 and up.

ABOUT THE CAST
ALEXANDER TIMOTHY BIATS (Schwartz) returns to The Cleveland Play House =
for
his second production of A Christmas Story. He also played the role of
Rieley in last year=92s CPH production of Custody of The Eyes. He has
performed in community productions of The Little Prince and A Christmas
Story at Dynamics Theatre; and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and The
Boxcar Children at the Magical Theater Company. Alexander=92s film =
credits
include a role in Madness. He attends Miller South School for Performing
Arts and is coached by Terry Sandler.

JACKSON DAUGHERTY (Randy) is making his first appearance at The =
Cleveland
Play House. He has appeared in the following productions at the Chagrin
Valley Little Theater under the direction of Julia Kolibab: A Christmas
Carol; King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone; Beauty and the Beast; and
Ghosts, Goblins and Gobblygook. Jackson attends Gurney Elementary School =
in
Chagrin Falls and has participated in the Fairmount Performing Arts Camp =
and
Chagrin Valley Little Theater youth theater classes.

NAOMI HILL (Helen) is making her first appearance at The Cleveland Play
House. Her community theatre credits include South Pacific at the Jewish
Community Center of Cleveland; Into the Woods at Heights Youth Theatre;
Gypsy and Music Man at Playmakers. Naomi is a member of the Cleveland
Orchestra Children=92s Chorus, and is a student in the Shaker Heights =
City
Schools. She has also trained at the Interlochen Performing Arts Camp =
and
Fairmount Performing Arts Camp.

ANGELA R. HOLECKO (Esther Jane) returns to The Cleveland Play House for =
her
second production of A Christmas Story. She also played Young Joan in =
the
CPH production of Far Away. Her other Cleveland theatre credits include
Ruthless (Mercury Summer Stock); Annie (Beck Center for the Arts); A =
Child=92s
Christmas in Wales (Dobama Theater); The Sound of Music (Cassidy Theater =
and
CCC West); Jesus Christ Superstar (CCC West); Gypsy (Garfield Heights =
Little
Theatre); and Truth About Cinderella  (Near West Theater). Angela has
appeared on the following television programs: =93Zoom,=94 =93Reading =
Rainbow=94 and
=93Stealing the Show,=94 and in the film Carpet Kingdom. She has also =
appeared
in commercials for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians and
MetroHealth Medical Center. Angela has attended the Fairmount Performing
Arts Camp.

CHARLES KARTALI (The Old Man) is delighted to return to The Cleveland =
Play
House as the Parker family patriarch of A Christmas Story. He has also
performed in Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom) and FusionFest 2006, =
both at
The Cleveland Play House. Select Cleveland theatre credits include: The =
Goat
or, Who is Sylvia? (Dobama Theatre); A Bright Room Called Day (Cleveland
Public Theatre); Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Ensemble =
Theatre);
and Awake and Sing (Halle Theatre). Mr. Kartali has also performed at =
many
regional theatres, including American Stage, Aspen Theatre in the Park,
BoarsHead, Shadowland, Steppenwolf and The American Classics Festival. =
Mr.
Kartali is a competition judge for the Dorothy Silver Playwriting
Competition, as well as an alumnus and guest artist with WordBRIDGE, a
national playwrights=92 laboratory modeled after its predecessor at the
Sundance Institute, since 1996.

BILLY LAWRENCE (Ralphie) returns to the cast of A Christmas Story in a =
new
role, having played Randy in last year=92s production at The Cleveland =
Play
House. His community theatre credits include The Hobbit and Guys and =
Dolls
(University School); and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
(Heights Youth Theater). Billy plays violin and studies piano under =
Nicholas
Underhill. He has also attended Fairmount Performing Arts Camp.

ALEX MAYES (Scut Farkas) is thrilled to return to The Cleveland Play =
House
for his second production of A Christmas Story. Community theatre =
credits
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Full Monty (Chagrin =
Valley
Little Theatre); Oklahoma! (University School); Lost Prospect (Ingenuity
Festival); The Shepherd (Cleveland Play House 90th Anniversary =
Celebration).
Alex has also appeared in the film The Messenger, and has attended the
Fairmount Performing Arts Camp. Alex is a model for local and national
markets, plays piano and enjoys soccer and tennis.

CHRISTOPHER McHALE (Ralph) returns to The Cleveland Play House for his
second production of A Christmas Story. His Broadway credits include =
Julius
Caesar with Denzel Washington; King Lear with Christopher Plummer; =
Execution
of Justice, The Iceman Cometh and Piaf. Off-Broadway, Mr. McHale has
performed in Lemking House (McGinn-Cazale Theatre); Defiance (Manhattan
Theatre Club); eight Shakespeare productions at the New York Shakespeare
Festival; and Domino (New York Theatre Workshop). His regional theatre
credits include productions at Yale Rep, Arena Stage, Shakespeare =
Theatre of
Washington, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Merrimack Rep, among =
many
others. Most recently, Mr. McHale has appeared on the television shows =
=93Law
& Order: Criminal Intent=94 and =93Six Degrees.=94

LOUIE ROSENBAUM (Flick) is thrilled to return to The Cleveland Play =
House
for his second production of A Christmas Story. His community theatre
credits include: Cinderella, Peter Pan, The Sound of Music and A Year in =
the
Life of the Peanut=92s Gang. Louie is currently a student in the =
Beachwood
City Schools.

PEGGY SCOTT (Miss Shields) returns to The Cleveland Play House for her
second production of A Christmas Story. Her New York theatre credits
include: Walk Two Moons; The Safety Net; Well and Everybody=92s Ruby =
(Public
Theatre); Bedfellows (Flea); Modigliani (Astor Place); and The We Plays =
with
the Negro Ensemble Company and La Mama. Regionally, Ms. Scott has =
performed
at the Guthrie Theatre, American Conservatory Theatre, Mark Taper Forum,
Huntington Theatre, Denver Center Theatre Company, Delaware Theatre =
Company,
Shakespeare in Santa Fe and the Adirondack Theatre Festival. She has =
also
appeared on =93Rescue Me=94 with Denis Leary.

ELIZABETH ANN TOWNSEND (Mother) returns to The Cleveland Play House for =
her
second production of A Christmas Story. In Cleveland, she has performed =
in
Talley=92s Folly (Ensemble Theatre); The Exonerated (Dobama Theatre); =
Agnes of
God and Boy Gets Girl (The Beck Center for the Arts). Regionally, Ms.
Townsend has performed in the world premieres of Leaving Iowa, Hope for
Corky, and Completing Dahlia (Purple Rose Theatre Company). She has =
worked
in New York City appearing in theatre, film, television and national =
network
commercials. Her television credits include =93The Sopranos=94 and =
=93Law &
Order,=94 and she appeared in Jeff Daniels=92 film Super Sucker.

DIRECTION AND DESIGN
PHILIP GRECIAN (Playwright) began his =93show business=94 career at the =
young
age of four as a ventriloquist and a magician. He received his =
professional
debut with Creede Colorado Repertory Theatre, and he continues to =
maintain a
connection with the theatre as a playwright and guest performer. He =
spent
six seasons as Artistic/Managing Director and Resident Playwright for a
theatre company he founded at the age of 16, and, in 1976, he left the
company to create a professional dinner theatre, serving as Producer and
Artistic Director. He then shifted his career to the film, video and =
audio
production industry. In 1994, he became Founding Director/Playwright for
I.H.S. Productions, Inc., which annually produces his stage adaptation =
of In
His Steps, based on the Charles Sheldon novel. Other works include =
Dickens=92
A Christmas Carol, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Dragon of Nitt, Lion and =
the
Lyre (translated and performed in Russia), Little Pills (based on =
Moliere=92s
Imaginary Invalid), Toby Saves the Farm, and a translation of Mozart=92s =
The
Magic Flute. Mr. Grecian has also adapted many novels and films into =
plays
for staged radio dramatization, including Dracula!, Frankenstein, =
Twisted
Tales of Poe, The Blood Countess and It=92s a Wonderful Life.

SETH GORDON (Director) is Associate Artistic Director of the Cleveland =
Play
House. CPH: Dinner with Friends, Proof, Forest City (world premiere),
Vincent in Brixton, Tuesdays with Morrie, A Christmas Story, The Wind in =
the
Willows; this season, RFK, Of Mice and Men, and Ferdinand the Bull.
CLEVELAND: Dobama Theatre, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, Beck Center =
for
the Arts. NEW YORK: Primary Stages, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Theatre for =
the
New City, many others. REGIONAL: Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Bay =
Street
Theatre, Studio Arena Theatre. INTERNATIONAL: Arabic premiere of Our =
Town in
Cairo. EDUCATION: High School of Performing Arts in New York and =
Carnegie
Mellon University in Pittsburgh. OTHER CREDITS: Mr. Gordon previously =
served
as Literary Manager and then as Associate Producer of Primary Stages in =
New
York. He has also directed and lectured at various universities, =
including
Case Western Reserve University. He received the Northern Ohio Live =
Awards
for excellence in theatre in 2004 and 2006. He considers himself a lucky
man.

MICHAEL GANIO (Scenic Designer) CPH: Proof, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and
world premieres of Jerusalem and A Kiss for Cinderella. REGIONAL: =
Tristan
und Isolde, Fidelio, Virginia Opera; Agrippina, Chicago Opera Theatre; =
Born
Yesterday, South Coast Rep; The Magic Fire, Lady Windermere=92s Fan, =
Milwaukee
Rep; The Little Foxes, The Royal Family, Intiman Theatre; The Rivals,
Treasure Island, Seven Guitars, The Last Yankee, Two Trains Running, =
Denver
Center Theatre Company; The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, The Underpants,
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Arcadia, Stones in His Pocket, =
Skylight,
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; Widows, Williamstown Theatre Festival; =
Ship
of Fools, Mannes Camerata Opera; By the Waters of Babylon, The Two =
Gentleman
of Verona, Love=92s Labor=92s Lost, The Tempest, Toys in the Attic , =
Dancing at
Lughnasa, Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  EDUCATION: Mr. Ganio holds an =
MFA
from New York University, and a BFA from Webster University in Saint =
Louis.

DAVID KAY MICKELSEN (Costume Designer) CPH: Room Service, The Dinner =
Party,
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Frank Langella=92s Cyrano, I Hate Hamlet, =
Company,
and the world premiere productions of Jerusalem and The Emancipation of
Valet de Chambre. REGIONAL: Guthrie Theatre, Geffen Playhouse, Denver =
Center
Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Arizona Theatre =
Company,
Pioneer Theatre, Geva Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Tennessee Rep, San =
Diego
Rep, New Mexico Rep, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Williamstown =
Theatre
Festival, Sundance Theatre, The Children=92s Theatre Company of =
Minneapolis,
Ford=92s Theatre, Portland Center Stage, A Contemporary Theatre, =
Ensemble
Studio Theatre, Pennsylvania Center Stage, Jean Cocteau Repertory =
Theatre,
Theatre of the Open Eye, Hampton Playhouse, Timberlake Playhouse, as =
well as
the Oregon, Colorado, Utah and Illinois Shakespeare festivals.

RICHARD WINKLER (Lighting Designer) CPH: The Underpants, Dirty Blonde, A
Tuna Christmas, and Waverly Gallery, as well as the world premiere
productions of Jerusalem and The Smell of the Kill, which transferred to
Broadway=92s Helen Hayes Theatre in 2002. NEW YORK: Howie the Rookie, =
Silent
Laughter, and Rodgers and Hammerstein=92s Cinderella, NYC Opera; a =
tribute to
jazz legend Shirley Horn, a concert version of Carmen Jones with Vanessa
Williams conducted by Placido Domingo, and individual concerts starring
Patti Lu Pone, Julie Andrews, Barbara Cook, and Liza Minelli at The =
Kennedy
Center. NATIONAL TOURS: Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (world premiere), =
A
Chorus Line, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, A Funny Thing=85, On =
The
Twentieth Century, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, Kiss Me Kate, Tommy, =
Funny
Girl, Jekyll and Hyde, and Anything Goes. REGIONAL: Lady Windemere=92s =
Fan,
Milwaukee Rep; Wit, Theatre Virginia; American Fiesta! (world premiere),
Nickel and Dimed, The Little Prince, Be Aggressive, Woman In Black, The
State Theatre, Austin. OTHER CREDITS: Mr. Winkler=92s designs for the =
25th
anniversary tour of Evita, directed by Harold Prince, and the recent
national tour of Fame, The Musical were widely acclaimed. He has also
designed for major opera companies in Houston, Miami, San Diego, and =
Dallas,
where his 50 productions included The Aspern Papers, televised on PBS.

JAMES C. SWONGER (Resident Sound Designer) CPH: RFK, Rabbit Hole, Dream =
a
Little Dream, Custody of the Eyes, Well, A Streetcar Named Desire, A
Christmas Story, I Am My Own Wife, Room Service, Bad Dates, Restoring =
the
Sun, Rounding Third, The Real Thing, The Piano Lesson, John Henry, =
Tuesdays
with Morrie, Plaid Tidings, Crowns, and Hurlyburly. REGIONAL: =
Cleveland=92s
Lyric Opera, Utah Festival Opera Company, Utah=92s Pioneer Theatre =
Company,
Baltimore=92s Center Stage, New Jersey=92s George Street Playhouse, and =
the Yale
Repertory Theater. OTHER CREDITS: Mr. Swonger designed the premiere
productions of The Tragic Demise of Whaleship Essex, Swinging on a Star: =
A
Tribute to the Music of Johnny Burke, Tangents, and The Count of Monte
Cristo, adapted by Charles Morey. He has designed sound system =
installations
for restaurants, theatres, and churches. Mr. Swonger was an adjunct
professor for the University of Utah=92s Fine Arts program.

###

Founded in 1915, The Cleveland Play House is America=92s first =
permanently
established professional theatre. Over the past 89 years, more than 11
million people have attended The Cleveland Play House=92s 1,300 =
productions =96
100 of which were American and/or World Premieres. At 300,000 square =
feet,
the Philip Johnson-designed Cleveland Play House complex houses five
performance spaces, making it the largest regional theatre complex in =
the
country.

The Cleveland Play House receives support from the Ohio Arts Council.

FACT SHEET

What:  	A Christmas Story
				by Philip Grecian, based on the motion
picture written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown & Bob Clark

Where:	Bolton Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, 8500 Euclid Ave.,
Cleveland, Ohio

When:		Preview Performances:         Thursday - Tuesday, Nov. 30,
Dec. 1, 2, 3 & 5, 2006
		Opening Night:	            Wednesday, December 6, 2006
		Final Performance:		Saturday, December 23, 2006

Who:		Cast
		Schwartz	Alex Biats
		Randy	Jackson Daugherty
		Heather Weathers	Naomi Hill
                        Esther Jane Alberry	Angela Holecko
		The Old Man	Charles Kartali
		Ralphie	Billy Lawrence
		Scut Farkas=85=85=85=85=85=85=85=85=85=85=85=85...Alex Mayes
		Ralph	Christopher McHale
		Flick	Louie Rosenbaum
		Mrs. Shields	Peggy Scott
                       Mother	Elizabeth Ann Townsend

		Creative Team
		Playwright:				Philip Grecian
		Director:				Seth Gordon
		Scenic Design:			Michael Ganio
		Lighting Design: 			Richard Winkler
		Costume Design:			David Kay Mickelsen
		Sound Design:			James C. Swonger

Times:			=09
Tuesday-Saturday Evenings		8:00 p.m.
Saturday Matinee			4:00 p.m.
Sunday Matinee			2:00 p.m.
Weekday Matinee			1:30 pm, Thursdays, Dec 7, 14 & 21
Opening Night			8:00 pm, Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Prices:				Prices start at $40.00

For Single Tickets: Call (216) 795-7000, ext. 4, or visit
www.clevelandplayhouse.com <http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com >=20
For Groups of 10 or More: Call Lisa Craig, (216) 795-7000, ext. 235

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<TITLE>A Christmas Story: Stage adaptation of holiday film favorite =
produced for the second year at Cleveland Play House</TITLE>
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<P>        =
        =
        <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">Contact:        Alison =
Bibb</FONT>

<BR>        =
        =
        =
        <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">216-795-7000 ext. 236; =
abibb at clevelandplayhouse.com</FONT>
</P>

<P ALIGN=3DCENTER><B><I><FONT SIZE=3D4 FACE=3D"Arial">A Christmas =
Story</FONT></I> <FONT SIZE=3D4 FACE=3D"Arial">is Perfect Holiday =
treat</FONT></B></P>

<P ALIGN=3DCENTER><B><I><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Stage adaptation of holiday =
film favorite produced for the second year at Cleveland Play =
House</FONT></I></B></P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">CLEVELAND (October 31, 2006) =
--</FONT></B> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial"> Back by popular =
demand,</FONT><B></B><B><I> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial">A Christmas =
Story</FONT></I></B><I><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">,</FONT></I><FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial"> opens for the second year in a row for previews on =
November 30 through December 23, 2006 in the Cleveland Play =
House’s Bolton Theatre.</FONT></P>

<P><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Associate Artistic Director, Seth Gordon, will =
again direct the cast, nearly all of whom are Cleveland-area actors, in =
the stage variation of the “new classic” holiday =
film.</FONT></P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">About</FONT></B><B><I> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial">A =
christmas story</FONT></I></B>

Phil Grecian’s stage =
adaptation of Jean Shepherd’s fond and funny tribute to the =
original, traditional, 100% red-blooded, All-American Christmas. Join =
young Ralphie Parker in his quest for the “Holy Grail of Christmas =
presents” – a genuine Red Ryder 200 Shot Carbine Action Air =
Rifle. Gaze in wonder at his father’s “major award.” =
Based on the movie filmed in Cleveland in 1983, this classic holiday =
comedy is a funny and sweet tale of growing up in the 1940s, and is =
suitable for ages 5 and up.

<P><B><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" FACE=3D"Arial">ABOUT THE CAST</FONT></B>

ALEXANDER TIMOTHY BIATS (Schwartz) returns to The Cleveland Play House for his =
second production of A Christmas =
Story. He also played the role of Rieley =
in last year’s CPH production of Custody of The Eyes. He =
has performed in community productions of The Little Prince =
and A Christmas Story at Dynamics Theatre; and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and The Boxcar =
Children at the Magical Theater Company. =
Alexander’s film credits include a role in Madness. He attends =
Miller South School for Performing Arts and is coached by Terry =
Sandler.

JACKSON DAUGHERTY (Randy) is making his first appearance at The Cleveland =
Play House. He has appeared in the following productions at the Chagrin =
Valley Little Theater under the direction of Julia =
Kolibab: A Christmas =
Carol; King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone; Beauty and the =
Beast; and Ghosts, Goblins and Gobblygook. Jackson attends Gurney Elementary School in Chagrin =
Falls and has participated in the Fairmount Performing Arts Camp and =
Chagrin Valley Little Theater youth theater classes.

NAOMI HILL =
(Helen) is making her first appearance at The Cleveland Play House. Her =
community theatre credits include South =
Pacific at the Jewish Community Center =
of Cleveland; Into the =
Woods at Heights Youth =
Theatre; Gypsy and Music =
Man at Playmakers. Naomi is a member of =
the Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus, and is a student in the =
Shaker Heights City Schools. She has also trained at the Interlochen =
Performing Arts Camp and Fairmount Performing Arts Camp.

ANGELA R. HOLECKO (Esther Jane) returns to The Cleveland Play House for =
her second production of A Christmas =
Story. She also played Young Joan in the =
CPH production of Far =
Away. Her other Cleveland theatre =
credits include Ruthless (Mercury Summer Stock); Annie (Beck Center for =
the Arts); A Child’s Christmas in =
Wales (Dobama Theater); The Sound of Music (Cassidy Theater and CCC West); Jesus Christ Superstar (CCC West); Gypsy (Garfield Heights =
Little Theatre); and Truth About =
Cinderella  (Near West Theater). =
Angela has appeared on the following television programs: =
“Zoom,” “Reading Rainbow” and “Stealing =
the Show,” and in the film Carpet =
Kingdom. She has also appeared in =
commercials for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians and MetroHealth =
Medical Center. Angela has attended the Fairmount Performing Arts =
Camp.

CHARLES KARTALI (The Old Man) is delighted to return to The Cleveland =
Play House as the Parker family patriarch of A Christmas Story. He has =
also performed in Tuesdays with =
Morrie (Mitch Albom) and FusionFest =
2006, both at The Cleveland Play House. Select Cleveland theatre credits =
include: The Goat or, Who is =
Sylvia? (Dobama Theatre); =
A Bright Room Called Day (Cleveland Public Theatre); Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Ensemble Theatre); and Awake and Sing (Halle =
Theatre). Mr. Kartali has also performed at many regional theatres, =
including American Stage, Aspen Theatre in the Park, BoarsHead, =
Shadowland, Steppenwolf and The American Classics Festival. Mr. Kartali =
is a competition judge for the Dorothy Silver Playwriting Competition, =
as well as an alumnus and guest artist with WordBRIDGE, a national =
playwrights’ laboratory modeled after its predecessor at the =
Sundance Institute, since 1996.

BILLY LAWRENCE (Ralphie) returns to the cast of A Christmas Story in a =
new role, having played Randy in last year’s production at The =
Cleveland Play House. His community theatre credits include =
The Hobbit and Guys and =
Dolls (University School); and =
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor =
Dreamcoat (Heights Youth Theater). Billy =
plays violin and studies piano under Nicholas Underhill. He has also =
attended Fairmount Performing Arts Camp.

ALEX MAYES =
(Scut Farkas) is thrilled to return to The Cleveland Play House for his =
second production of A Christmas =
Story.=A0Community theatre =
credits Joseph and the Amazing =
Technicolor Dreamcoat and =
Full Monty (Chagrin =
Valley Little Theatre); Oklahoma! (University =
School); Lost Prospect (Ingenuity Festival); The =
Shepherd (Cleveland Play House 90th =
Anniversary Celebration). Alex has also appeared in the film =
The Messenger, and =
has attended the Fairmount Performing Arts Camp. Alex is a model for =
local and national markets, plays piano and enjoys soccer and =
tennis.

CHRISTOPHER McHALE (Ralph) returns to The Cleveland Play House for his =
second production of A Christmas =
Story. His Broadway credits =
include Julius Caesar with Denzel Washington; King Lear with =
Christopher Plummer; Execution of =
Justice, The Iceman Cometh and Piaf. Off-Broadway, Mr. McHale has performed in =
Lemking House (McGinn-Cazale Theatre); Defiance (Manhattan =
Theatre Club); eight Shakespeare productions at the New York Shakespeare =
Festival; and Domino (New York Theatre Workshop). His regional theatre credits =
include productions at Yale Rep, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre of =
Washington, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Merrimack Rep, among =
many others. Most recently, Mr. McHale has appeared on the television =
shows “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “Six =
Degrees.”

LOUIE ROSENBAUM (Flick) is thrilled to return to The Cleveland Play =
House for his second production of A =
Christmas Story. His community theatre =
credits include: Cinderella, Peter Pan, =
The Sound of Music and A Year in the Life of the Peanut’s =
Gang. Louie is currently a student in =
the Beachwood City Schools.

PEGGY SCOTT (Miss Shields) returns to The Cleveland Play House for =
her second production of A Christmas =
Story. Her New York theatre credits =
include: Walk Two Moons; The Safety Net; =
Well and Everybody’s Ruby (Public Theatre); Bedfellows (Flea); Modigliani (Astor Place); =
and The We Plays with the Negro Ensemble Company and La Mama. Regionally, =
Ms. Scott has performed at the Guthrie Theatre, American Conservatory =
Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Huntington Theatre, Denver Center Theatre =
Company, Delaware Theatre Company, Shakespeare in Santa Fe and the =
Adirondack Theatre Festival. She has also appeared on “Rescue =
Me” with Denis Leary.

ELIZABETH ANN TOWNSEND (Mother) returns to The Cleveland Play House for her =
second production of A Christmas =
Story. In Cleveland, she has performed =
in Talley’s Folly (Ensemble Theatre); The =
Exonerated (Dobama Theatre); =
Agnes of God =
and Boy Gets Girl (The Beck Center for the Arts). Regionally, Ms. Townsend =
has performed in the world premieres of Leaving Iowa, Hope for Corky, and Completing =
Dahlia (Purple Rose Theatre Company). =
She has worked in New York City appearing in theatre, film, television =
and national network commercials. Her television credits include =
“The Sopranos” and “Law & Order,” and she =
appeared in Jeff Daniels’ film Super Sucker.

<P><I><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">DIRECTION AND DESIGN</FONT></B></I>

PHILIP GRECIAN (Playwright) began his “show business” =
career at the young age of four as a ventriloquist and a magician. He =
received his professional debut with Creede Colorado Repertory Theatre, =
and he continues to maintain a connection with the theatre as a =
playwright and guest performer. He spent six seasons as =
Artistic/Managing Director and Resident Playwright for a theatre company =
he founded at the age of 16, and, in 1976, he left the company to create =
a professional dinner theatre, serving as Producer and Artistic =
Director. He then shifted his career to the film, video and audio =
production industry. In 1994, he became Founding Director/Playwright for =
I.H.S. Productions, Inc., which annually produces his stage adaptation =
of In His Steps, based on the Charles Sheldon novel. Other works include =
Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, The =
Velveteen Rabbit, The Dragon of Nitt, Lion and the Lyre (translated and performed in Russia), Little Pills (based on =
Moliere’s Imaginary Invalid), Toby =
Saves the Farm, and a translation of =
Mozart’s The Magic =
Flute. Mr. Grecian has also adapted many =
novels and films into plays for staged radio dramatization, =
including Dracula!, Frankenstein, Twisted =
Tales of Poe, The Blood Countess =
and It’s a Wonderful =
Life.

SETH GORDON =
(Director) is Associate Artistic Director of the Cleveland Play House. =
CPH: Dinner with Friends, Proof, Forest =
City (world premiere), Vincent in Brixton, Tuesdays with Morrie, A Christmas =
Story, The Wind in the Willows; this =
season, RFK, Of Mice and Men, =
and Ferdinand the =
Bull. CLEVELAND: Dobama Theatre, =
Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, Beck Center for the Arts. NEW YORK: =
Primary Stages, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Theatre for the New City, many =
others. REGIONAL: Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Bay Street Theatre, =
Studio Arena Theatre. INTERNATIONAL: Arabic premiere of Our Town in Cairo. =
EDUCATION: High School of Performing Arts in New York and Carnegie =
Mellon University in Pittsburgh. OTHER CREDITS: Mr. Gordon previously =
served as Literary Manager and then as Associate Producer of Primary =
Stages in New York. He has also directed and lectured at various =
universities, including Case Western Reserve University. He received the =
Northern Ohio Live Awards for excellence in theatre in 2004 and 2006. He =
considers himself a lucky man.

MICHAEL GANIO (Scenic Designer) CPH: Proof, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and world premieres of Jerusalem and =
A Kiss for Cinderella. REGIONAL: Tristan und =
Isolde, Fidelio, Virginia =
Opera; Agrippina, Chicago Opera Theatre; Born Yesterday, South =
Coast Rep; The Magic Fire, Lady =
Windermere’s Fan, Milwaukee =
Rep; The Little Foxes, The Royal =
Family, Intiman Theatre; The Rivals, Treasure Island, Seven Guitars, The Last =
Yankee, Two Trains Running, Denver =
Center Theatre Company; The Caine Mutiny =
Court Martial, The Underpants, =
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Arcadia, Stones in His Pocket, Skylight, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; Widows, Williamstown =
Theatre Festival; Ship of =
Fools, Mannes Camerata Opera; =
By the Waters of Babylon, The Two Gentleman of =
Verona, Love’s Labor’s Lost, The Tempest, Toys in the Attic =
, Dancing at Lughnasa, Oregon =
Shakespeare Festival.  EDUCATION: Mr. Ganio holds an MFA from New =
York University, and a BFA from Webster University in Saint =
Louis.

DAVID KAY MICKELSEN (Costume Designer) CPH: Room Service, The Dinner Party, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, =
Frank Langella’s Cyrano, I Hate Hamlet, Company, and the world premiere productions of Jerusalem and =
The Emancipation of Valet de =
Chambre. REGIONAL: Guthrie Theatre, =
Geffen Playhouse, Denver Center Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in =
the Park, Arizona Theatre Company, Pioneer Theatre, Geva Theatre, =
Northlight Theatre, Tennessee Rep, San Diego Rep, New Mexico Rep, =
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Sundance =
Theatre, The Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis, =
Ford’s Theatre, Portland Center Stage, A Contemporary Theatre, =
Ensemble Studio Theatre, Pennsylvania Center Stage, Jean Cocteau =
Repertory Theatre, Theatre of the Open Eye, Hampton Playhouse, =
Timberlake Playhouse, as well as the Oregon, Colorado, Utah and Illinois =

Shakespeare festivals.</FONT></P>

RICHARD WINKLER (Lighting Designer) CPH: The Underpants, Dirty Blonde, A Tuna =
Christmas, and Waverly Gallery, as well =
as the world premiere productions of Jerusalem and =
The Smell of the Kill, which transferred to Broadway’s Helen Hayes =
Theatre in 2002. NEW YORK: Howie the =
Rookie, Silent Laughter, and Rodgers and =
Hammerstein’s Cinderella, NYC Opera; a =
tribute to jazz legend Shirley Horn, a concert version of =
Carmen Jones with =
Vanessa Williams conducted by Placido Domingo, and individual concerts =
starring Patti Lu Pone, Julie Andrews, Barbara Cook, and Liza Minelli at =
The Kennedy Center. NATIONAL TOURS: Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (world premiere), A =
Chorus Line, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, A Funny Thing…, =
On The Twentieth Century, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, Kiss Me Kate, =
Tommy, Funny Girl, Jekyll and Hyde, =
and Anything Goes. REGIONAL: Lady =
Windemere’s Fan, Milwaukee =
Rep; Wit, Theatre Virginia; American =
Fiesta! (world premiere), =
Nickel and Dimed, The Little Prince, Be Aggressive, =
Woman In Black, The State Theatre, =
Austin. OTHER CREDITS: Mr. Winkler’s designs for the 25th =
anniversary tour of Evita, directed by Harold =
Prince, and the recent national tour of Fame, The Musical were =
widely acclaimed. He has also designed for major opera companies in =
Houston, Miami, San Diego, and Dallas, where his 50 productions =
included The Aspern =
Papers, televised on PBS.

JAMES C. SWONGER (Resident Sound Designer) CPH: RFK, Rabbit Hole, Dream a Little Dream, Custody of the =
Eyes, Well, A Streetcar Named Desire, A Christmas Story, I Am My Own =
Wife, Room Service, Bad Dates, Restoring the Sun, Rounding Third, The =
Real Thing, The Piano Lesson, John Henry, Tuesdays with =
Morrie, =
Plaid Tidings, Crowns, =
and Hurlyburly. REGIONAL: Cleveland’s Lyric Opera, Utah Festival =
Opera Company, Utah’s Pioneer Theatre Company, Baltimore’s =
Center Stage, New Jersey’s George Street Playhouse, and the Yale =
Repertory Theater. OTHER CREDITS: Mr. Swonger designed the premiere =
productions of The Tragic Demise of =
Whaleship Essex, Swinging on a Star: A Tribute to the Music of Johnny =
Burke, Tangents, and The Count of Monte Cristo, adapted by Charles Morey. He has designed sound system =
installations for restaurants, theatres, and churches. Mr. Swonger was =
an adjunct professor for the University of Utah’s Fine Arts =
program.

<P ALIGN=3DCENTER><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">###</FONT></P>

Founded in 1915, The =
Cleveland Play House is America’s first permanently established =
professional theatre. Over the past 89 years, more than 11 million =
people have attended The Cleveland Play House’s 1,300 productions =
– 100 of which were American and/or World Premieres. At 300,000 =
square feet, the Philip Johnson-designed Cleveland Play House complex =
houses five performance spaces, making it the largest regional theatre =
complex in the country.

<P ALIGN=3DCENTER><I><FONT SIZE=3D1 FACE=3D"Arial">The Cleveland Play =
House receives support from the Ohio Arts Council.</FONT></I></P>
<BR>

<P ALIGN=3DCENTER><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">FACT SHEET</FONT></B></P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">What:  </FONT></B><B><I> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">A Christmas Story</FONT></I></B><I></I>
<UL><UL><UL><UL>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">by Philip Grecian, based on the motion picture =
written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown & Bob Clark</FONT>
</P>
</UL></UL></UL></UL>
<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Where: </FONT></B> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">Bolton Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, 8500 Euclid =
Ave., Cleveland, Ohio</FONT>
</P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">When:   =
       </FONT></B> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">Preview =
Performances:         Thursday - =
Tuesday, Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2, 3 & 5, 2006</FONT>
<UL><UL>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Opening Night:  =
            =
Wednesday, December 6, 2006</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Final =
Performance:      =
        Saturday, December 23, =
2006</FONT>
</P>
</UL></UL>
<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Who:   </FONT></B> =
       <U></U><U><B> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">Cast</FONT></B></U>
<UL><UL>
<P><FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">Schwartz        Alex =
Biats</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Randy   Jackson Daugherty</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Heather =
Weathers        Naomi Hill</FONT>
</UL></UL>
<P><FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">         &nbs=
p;           &nbsp=
;  Esther Jane Alberry     Angela =
Holecko</FONT>
<UL><UL>
<P><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">The Old Man     Charles =
Kartali</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Ralphie Billy Lawrence</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Scut =
Farkas………………………&#82=
30;……...Alex Mayes</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Ralph   Christopher McHale</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Flick   Louie Rosenbaum</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Mrs. Shields    Peggy =
Scott</FONT>
</UL></UL>
<P><FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">         &nbs=
p;           &nbsp=
; Mother   Elizabeth Ann Townsend</FONT>
</P>
<UL><UL>
<P><U><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Creative Team</FONT></B></U>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Playwright:     =
        =
        =
        Philip Grecian</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Director:       =
        =
        =
        Seth Gordon</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Scenic Design:  =
        =
        Michael Ganio</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Lighting Design: =
       =
        =
        Richard Winkler</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Costume Design: =
        =
        David Kay Mickelsen</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Sound Design:   =
        =
        James C. Swonger</FONT>
</P>
</UL></UL>
<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Times:  =
        =
        =
       <BR>
</FONT></B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Tuesday-Saturday =
Evenings       =
        8:00 p.m.</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Saturday =
Matinee        =
        =
        4:00 p.m.</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Sunday Matinee  =
        =
        2:00 p.m.</FONT>

<BR><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Weekday Matinee =
        =
        1:30 pm, Thursdays, Dec 7, 14 =
& 21</FONT>

<BR><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Opening Night   =
        =
        8:00 pm, Wednesday, December =
6, 2006</FONT></B>
</P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Prices: =
       </FONT></B> =
        =
        <FONT FACE=3D"Arial">Prices =
start at $40.00</FONT>
</P>

<P><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">For Single Tickets:</FONT></B> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">Call (216) 795-7000, ext. 4, or </FONT><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#000000" FACE=3D"Arial">visit</FONT><U></U><U><B> </B></U><A =
HREF=3D"http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com "><U><B><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#000000" =
FACE=3D"Arial">www.clevelandplayhouse.com</FONT></B></U><U><B></B></U></A=
><U><B></B></U><U></U><U><B></B></U><U><B></B></U>

<BR><B><FONT FACE=3D"Arial">For Groups of 10 or More:</FONT></B> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Arial">Call Lisa Craig, (216) 795-7000, ext. 235</FONT>
</P>
<BR>
<BR>

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